To the Editor: Sometime around the end of the first century c.e, Rabbi Tarfonsaid: "It is not incumbent upon you to finish the task, but neitherare you free to absolve yourself from it" His words are as apt todayas they were then. For too long, Israeli governments have beencontent to cling to power by blaming Palestinians for intransigence.The status quo is unsustainable and unacceptable.Those who claim to bepolitical "leaders" must not be content with finger-pointing andwhining.Barry Haskell Levine